Rearing Calves to £410 x2 (91)
B&W av £68.15 Cont av £306.35 Native av £202.5
A large show of calves on offer today but not quite as strong as trade as previous weeks with the cold weather holding a couple of buyers back today, however on the whole calves sold away nicely. A run of strong blues from JR&MJ Moon of Wigglesworth sold to £410 twice. The Blue heifers were not quite as potent today, however Houseman’s of Church Farm Enterprises managed £380 three times for some 5 week old heifers and GCL Stephenson made £340 with a lovely 4 week old heifer. Despite a limited number of buyers on black and white calves today trade was brisk with the better end topping out at £145 for a consignment from Chadwick and Leaver of Southfield, Burnley with an average for all entrants of £68.15.
Bull Calves
Limousin x (Av £248) to £370 EJ Fort
Brit Blue x (Av £350.5) to £410 JR&MJ Moon
Aberdeen Angus (Av £234) to £280 G&PS Fleetwood
Flekvieh (Av £225) to £225 C Watson
Simmental X (Av £270) to £290 CN&SA Harrison
Shorthorn (Av £98) to £105 Flasby Estates
Black & White (Av £68.15) to £145 Chadwick & Leaver
Heifer Calves
Ab Angus (Av £135) to £145 G&PS Fleetwood
British Blue (Av £319) to £380 x3 Church Farm Enteprises
Lim (Av £240) to £330 x2 D Clarke
Craven Dairy Auction (11 head)
Trade not quite as sharp today and not surprising considering the announcement on Friday of 2.16ppl price cut from ARLA UK. Despite the news of the supressed milk price trade was relatively strong for the heifers on offer. Pre Sale Show saw Robin Jennings of South Stainley attain his first champion of the year with a lovely 32 litre heifer which sold to the Judge Andrew Townsend for £1750. Reserve Champion from Mark Smith of Winterburn and first in the ring reached the sale top of £1800 for a lovely sweet dales heifer giving 28 litres. Tony and James Swires of Stainburn also had a run of good heifers selling to £1700 for his best entry and going to Brian Blezard of Ribchester.
Judge – Andrew Townsend
Prize Awards: Newly Calven Heifers: 1st GB Jennings 2nd M&R Smith 3rd ASE Crisp & Son
Champion – GB Jennings Reserve – M&R Smith
Newly Calven Heifers (av £1535): to £1800 M&R Smith